I am planning on going more involved in editing for Jedi Academy but I have a question. I want to try and see whether I like both mapping and modeling for it. But what is easier to learn the basics of? (Meaning what technique of modding can you read a tutorial and understand it without having to reread it several times over)

Mapping. Rich Diesal's tutroial is very beginner-friendly.
Modelling is rather difficult to get into; it starts with the decision which software to use (there are quite a few alternatives - albeit many of them not available for free - and tutorials tend to be specific to the software being used by the writer; also, getting models in-game is considerably more sophisticated and error-prone than compiling maps, in particular player models).